13th February

Friday 13th February – Otago Goldfields – Christine strikes gold!

Drove to Kawarau gorge to the Goldfields Mining Centre. Jim, our very friendly and knowledgeable guide powered up the pelton wheel driven stamping machine and also demonstrated a water jet used for hydraulic mining of the alluvial gold deposit.

Finally he demonstrated panning and had dug up a pile of alluvial deposit from beneath a boulder further down the valley. Soon after starting panning from the pile, Christine discovered a large flake of gold, probably several grains in weight, almost a small nugget and about the largest size found in the area.

Then we drove on to Cromwell and a restored historic town that had been saved when the area was flooded for a hydro scheme.

Then a detour to Bannockburn, not for a battle, but because it is the centre of wine production in the area. I can vouch that the white is very drinkable.

Then to Arrowtown, a similar restored goldfield town, but with better coffee.

Finally back to Queenstown, a glass of wine on the lakeside and watching the vintage steam ship 'Earnslaw' gradually get larger as she steamed across the lake and into her mooring.